Botswana gears for Junior Men’s softball World Championship

SHARE | Tuesday, 12 April 2016 | By Ontametse Sugar

Botswana will be among the two countries from Africa taking part at the Junior Men’s Softball World Championship from July 24- 30 in Midland, USA at the historic Emerson Park and Currie Stadium. The other country from Africa is South Africa, joining Canada, Venezuela, Argentina, United States and Mexico. From Asia will be Japan only while Europe will have Czech Republic, Denmark and Israel. New Zealand and Australia will represent Oceania.

World Baseball Softball Association (WBSC) President Dale Mc Mann said Midland 2016 will be an ideal backdrop for the elite young athletes to shine and proudly wear the jerseys of their countries. “The WBSC is committed to showcasing our sport's world championships to advance our leading position and appeal as a youth-based sport across both genders,” he said.

Botswana is in Pool A with Argentina, Australia, United States, Czech Republic, Denmark, and Venezuela while in Pool B there is New Zealand, Japan, Mexico, Canada, South Africa, and Israel. The top four teams from each pool will then advance into a double-page playoff system. An umpire from Botswana has also been chosen to officiate at the games. The national team has recently been on camp. The team’s head coach is Basiami Molatlhiwa. The Botswana Softball Association (BSA) spokesperson Kelebogile Seitei said all athletes were chosen from different regions in the country at the 2015 Botswana Games. At the moment they are 30 players in the team and will be reduced to 20. “The competition is too much that is why they haven’t been cut yet,” she said. Seitei said she believes that they will have a great team that will represent Botswana well in July.